Anger at ‘tick-box approach’ to services for the vulnerable

Fife Council has been accused of abandoning housebound, elderly and disabled people just days before its shopping, pensions and prescriptions collection services are axed due to budget cuts.

Opposition leader Alex Rowley has also branded assurances that people who needed a service would continue to get one as “empty, shallow promises.”

In addition Mr Rowley, who leads the council’s Labour group, claimed that the staff who run the service and who will be made redundant on September 9 have been badly let down by senior politicians and management.

However, health and social work chairman Tim Brett has described Mr Rowley’s comments as “a bit rich,” saying that the previous Labour government had caused the financial problems now being faced by the council — which mean £120 million in savings have to be found in the next four years.

Mr Rowley said it had emerged that staff had put forward proposals that would have reduced the cost of the service by approximately 50%. These, he said, were ignored by management and attempts by staff to set up an arm’s length social company to run the service were rejected.

“The way this matter has been dealt with amounts to no more than a tick-box approach to providing people’s social care and takes no account of the needs of elderly and vulnerable people,” he added.

“I had assurances from social work’s head of service as well as SNP and Liberal politicians who made the decision to cut the service that any person in need of the service would continue to get it.

“It is now clear that this was never going to happen and the best you can hope for is to be given a list of private sector providers with various degrees of charges and help from social work to phone them.”

Mr Rowley said he was also concerned about poor information contained in the booklet of private companies which has been distributed by social work to elderly and vulnerable people.

“This booklet gives a list of companies and prices that vary from £6 to £19.98 per session/hour,” he said. “It would seem social work asked the Fife Elderly Forum to put the list together but having called round many of the companies it is clear they don’t all offer the service.

“I have received complaints from some private providers that others on the list have not been properly screened before going into elderly and vulnerable people’s houses and handling their money.

Accuracy of information

“Amazingly no one at either the council or the elderly forum is willing to take responsibility for the accuracy of the information or the liability if something goes seriously wrong and yet this is the only option and it is social work staff distributing this information.”

Mr Rowley has written to Mr Brett asking for a meeting as a matter of urgency to discuss the issues.

Mr Brett said he appreciated the service was much valued by those who used it and added, “Since February we have been working with service users to ensure they have alternative arrangements in place when the present service ceases. We will continue to check with individuals that these arrangements are satisfactory over the next few months.”

Head of older people’s services Rona Laing said the council’s priority was to support vulnerable people and that staff had been conducting a “robust and detailed approach” to ensure people knew what the plans were, what options were available and who to contact for support and guidance.

“For those individuals identified as requiring some form of assistance to put in place alternative collection or delivery services, further contact was made to provide assistance with this,” she said.

“Social work staff in partnership with the Fife Elderly Forum have put mechanisms in place to provide further checks in October to ensure that all those affected by the changes have suitable alternative arrangements in place.”